When I was at Target the other day, I saw something that instantly drew my attention: a digital camera. Not just any digital camera, it cost a mere $20, the fraction of the cost of the average digital camera. As I’ve been looking for one for a while, I decided to buy it and try it out.
Let me start with, it was $20 for a reason. I knew this. If you buy this camera and forget that it costs half the price of even the next cheapest digital camera, you will be disappointed. I looked at the camera on the Target website, and was shocked when I found dozens of 5-star reviews:
“[This camera] is lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for capturing everyday moments without any complicated setup.” One user said. “The photos come out clear for a compact camera, and the size makes it great to toss in a bag or keep handy on the go.”
Out of the box, this camera was really easy to set up. I plugged it in, let it charge, set the time, and was ready to go. When it was charged, I tried to take a few photos with and without the flash feature. Those photos did not turn out well. I attributed this to the lack of light, and decided to try it again in brighter lighting the next morning.
One thing that I note about the digital camera is that the photos come out really dark. The quality is okay, but unless your lighting is fantastic, most photos with the camera will turn out like the photo above. Although the feature seems amplified on this camera, I do feel like photos with less light are a consistent by-product of digital cameras.
I don’t think that when purchasing a digital camera, photo quality is really the first thing on anyone’s mind; many of us have much better cameras attached to the phone in our pockets. A digital camera is more about the spirit of using less advanced technology. It’s about having a date stamp on photos you take, and not getting out your phone to capture an experience.
In this light, this camera excels.
Something that this camera has going for it is the price; when searching both Amazon and Target, digital cameras cost a lot more, from forty to a hundred dollars. In comparison, this twenty dollar camera feels very cheap.
This camera is also light-weight, which makes it ideal for taking with you anywhere. You can throw it in your school backpack, to capture memories without getting your phone taken away, or on your next night with friends, to take photos without the distraction of a phone, and I really like that aspect of this camera.
I would not recommend it to anyone who wants to take photos of a fantastic quality. Overall, this camera would be ideal for anyone who wants the nostalgia of digital photos, without the investment of a more expensive digital camera. It could be a great gift for that friend who keeps downloading digital camera apps, or who wants the real deal. For the price, I would rate this camera 4/5 stars.
